It's official: John Frusciante has left the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The 39-year-old guitarist confirmed this week's rumours that he had quit the band through a message on his website, where he said he left the group over a year ago because "my musical interests have led me in a different direction."
"When I quit the band, over a year ago, we were on an indefinite hiatus," Frusciante wrote. "There was no drama or anger involved, and the other guys were very understanding. They are supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy and that goes both ways."
Frusciante previously quit the RHCP in 1992, only to rejoin the group in 1998 and record three more albums with the band: 1999's Californication, 2002's By the Way and 2006's Stadium Arcadium. Now, the Chili Peppers touring guitarist Josh Klinghoffer is rumoured to have replaced Frusciante, and will be recording with the band on their upcoming new album.
We can only hope this departure now clears the way for Frusciante to once again work with Krautrock legend Michael Rother.
Here is Frusciante's full statement:
When I quit the band, over a year ago, we were on an indefinite hiatus. There was no drama or anger involved, and the other guys were very understanding. They are supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy and that goes both ways.
To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction. Upon rejoining, and throughout my time in the band, I was very excited about exploring the musical possibilities inherent in a rock band, and doing so with those people in particular. A couple of years ago, I began to feel that same excitement again, but this time it was about making a different kind of music, alone, and being my own engineer.
I really love the band and what we did. I understand and value that my work with them means a lot to many people, but I have to follow my interests. For me, art has never been something done out of a sense of duty. It is something I do because it is really fun, exciting, and interesting. Over the last 12 years, I have changed, as a person and artist, to such a degree that to do further work along the lines I did with the band would be to go against my own nature. There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do.
Sending love and gratitude to you all.
"When I quit the band, over a year ago, we were on an indefinite hiatus," Frusciante wrote. "There was no drama or anger involved, and the other guys were very understanding. They are supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy and that goes both ways."
Frusciante previously quit the RHCP in 1992, only to rejoin the group in 1998 and record three more albums with the band: 1999's Californication, 2002's By the Way and 2006's Stadium Arcadium. Now, the Chili Peppers touring guitarist Josh Klinghoffer is rumoured to have replaced Frusciante, and will be recording with the band on their upcoming new album.
We can only hope this departure now clears the way for Frusciante to once again work with Krautrock legend Michael Rother.
Here is Frusciante's full statement:
When I quit the band, over a year ago, we were on an indefinite hiatus. There was no drama or anger involved, and the other guys were very understanding. They are supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy and that goes both ways.
To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction. Upon rejoining, and throughout my time in the band, I was very excited about exploring the musical possibilities inherent in a rock band, and doing so with those people in particular. A couple of years ago, I began to feel that same excitement again, but this time it was about making a different kind of music, alone, and being my own engineer.
I really love the band and what we did. I understand and value that my work with them means a lot to many people, but I have to follow my interests. For me, art has never been something done out of a sense of duty. It is something I do because it is really fun, exciting, and interesting. Over the last 12 years, I have changed, as a person and artist, to such a degree that to do further work along the lines I did with the band would be to go against my own nature. There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do.
Sending love and gratitude to you all.